Bill Text: NJ S411 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Limits to $5,000 per election amount contributed to and by county committee of a political party.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S411 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S411-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SAMUEL D. THOMPSON
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Limits to $5,000 per election amount contributed to and by county committee of a political party.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act limiting campaign contributions by and to county political party committees and amending P.L.1993, c.65.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2) is amended to read as follows:
22. a. Not later than December 1 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the office of Governor for a four-year term, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall adjust the amounts, set forth in subsection b. of this section, which shall be applicable under P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) to primary and general elections for any public office other than the office of Governor, to limitations on contributions to and from political committees, continuing political committees, candidate committees, joint candidates committees, political party committees and legislative leadership committees and to other amounts, at a percentage which shall be the same as the percentage of change that the commission applies to the amounts used for the primary and general elections for the office of Governor held in the third year preceding the year in which that December 1 occurs, pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1980, c.74 (C.19:44A-7.1), and any amount so adjusted shall be rounded in the same manner as provided in that section.
b. The amounts subject to adjustment as provided under this section shall be:
(1) the minimum amount raised or expended by any two or more persons acting jointly who qualify as a political committee and the minimum amount contributed or expected to be contributed in any calendar year by any group of two or more persons acting jointly who qualify as a continuing political committee as defined in section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3);
(2) the minimum amount of a contribution to a political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee or political party committee which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8), and the minimum amount of a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16);
(3) the minimum amount of a contribution to a political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee or a political party committee received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election, the minimum amount of an expenditure by a political committee during that period, and the minimum amount of an expenditure by a continuing political committee during the period beginning after March 31 and ending on the date of the primary election and the period beginning after September 30 and ending on the date of the general election which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8), and the minimum amount of a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee received during the period between the 13th day prior to the election and the date of the election which triggers an obligation to report that contribution to the commission pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16);
(4) the maximum amount which may be expended by the campaign organizations of two or more candidates forming a joint candidates committee without being required to file contribution reports, pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-8);
(5) the maximum amount that a person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, may spend to support or defeat a candidate or to aid the passage or defeat of a public question without being required to report all such expenditures and expenses to the commission pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-11) and the maximum amount that a person, not acting in concert with any other person or group, may raise through a public solicitation and expend to finance any lawful activity in support of or in opposition to any candidate or public question or to seek to influence the content, introduction, passage or defeat of legislation pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-19);
(6) the maximum amount that may be expended, in the aggregate, on behalf of a candidate without requiring that candidate to file contribution reports with the commission and the maximum amount that may be expended, in the aggregate, on behalf of a candidate seeking election to a public office of a school district, without requiring that candidate to file contribution reports with the commission pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-16);
(7) the maximum amount of penalty which may be imposed by the commission on any person who fails to comply with the regulatory provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) for a first offense or a second and subsequent offenses, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-22);
(8) the maximum amount of penalty which may be imposed by the commission on any corporation or labor organization which provides any of its employees any additional increment of salary for the express purpose of making a contribution to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political party committee, legislative leadership committee, political committee or continuing political committee for a first or a second and subsequent offenses, pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-20.1);
(9) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by an individual, a corporation or labor organization to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by a political committee or a continuing political committee to a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee other than the committee of a candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor and the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by one candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, other than the committee of a candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, to another candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee other than the committee of a candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3);
(10) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by an individual, corporation, labor organization, political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group to any political party committee or any legislative leadership committee pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.4);
(11) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee to a political committee or a continuing political committee and the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by one political committee or continuing political committee to another political committee or continuing political committee pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.5)[.] ;
(12) the amount of filing fees which may be collected from a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee, a continuing political committee, a political party committee, a legislative leadership committee, or any other person pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-6) (as that section shall have been amended by P.L.1983, c.579);
(13) the maximum amount of contributions permitted to be made by a county committee of a political party to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee, the State committee of a political party, another county committee of a political party or a municipal committee of a political party, pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3).
c. Not later than December 15 of each year preceding any year in which a general election is to be held to fill the office of Governor for a four-year term, the commission shall report to the Legislature and make public its adjustment of limits in accordance with the provisions of this section. Whenever, following the transmittal of that report, the commission shall have notice that a person has declared as a candidate for nomination for election or for election to any public office in a forthcoming primary or general election, it shall promptly notify that candidate of the amounts of those adjusted limits.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.22)
2. Section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3) is amended to read as follows:
18. a. No individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group shall: (1) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election, or (2) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election per candidate, or (3) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, or their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election.
b. (1) No political committee or continuing political committee shall: (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or the joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from any political committee or continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(2) [The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate for any elective public office in another county or, in the case of a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature, in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, less than 20% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.
The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, except that the amount of any contribution of money or other thing of value shall be in an amount which in the aggregate does not exceed $25,000, shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate, or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate, for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, at least 20% but less than 40% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.]
No county committee of a political party shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee, State committee of a political party, municipal committee of a political party or to another county committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per election to that candidate. No county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from another county committee of a political party, a municipal committee of a political party, political committee, continuing political committee, State committee of a political party, legislative leadership committee, candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from a county committee of a political party any contribution or money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per election from that county committee.
With respect to the limitations in this paragraph, the Legislature finds and declares that:
(a) Persons or organizations making contributions to the county committee of a political party have a right to expect that their money will be used, for the most part, to support candidates for elective office who will most directly represent the interest of that county;
(b) The practice of allowing a county committee to use funds raised with this expectation to make unlimited contributions to candidates for [the Legislature] public office or to other committees who may have a limited, or even nonexistent, connection with or interest in that county serves to undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process;
(c) Furthermore, the risk of actual or perceived corruption is raised by the potential for contributors to circumvent limits on contributions to candidates by [funnelling] funneling money to candidates through county committees;
(d) The State has a compelling interest in preventing the actuality or appearance of corruption and in protecting public confidence in democratic institutions by limiting the amounts which a county committee may contribute to [legislative] candidates [whose districts are not located in close proximity to that county] for public office or other committees; and
(e) It is, therefore, reasonable for the State to promote this compelling interest by limiting the amount a county committee may give to a [legislative] candidate [based upon the degree to which the population of the legislative district overlaps with the population of that county] for public office or other committees.
c. (1) No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of the Governor, shall knowingly accept from another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(2) No candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from other candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing committee, $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election.
(3) No candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(4) Expenditures by a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature or to an office of a political subdivision of the State, or by the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of such a candidate, which are made in furtherance of the nomination or election, respectively, of another candidate for the same office in the same legislative district or the same political subdivision shall not be construed to be subject to any limitation under this subsection; for the purposes of this sentence, the offices of member of the State Senate and member of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same office.
d. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impose any limitation on contributions by a candidate, or by a corporation, 100% of the stock in which is owned by a candidate or the candidate's spouse, child, parent or sibling residing in the same household, to that candidate's campaign.
e. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given to or by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution to or by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.18)
3. Section 19 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.4) is amended to read as follows:
19. a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate.
Adjustments to the limits established in this paragraph which have been made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2), prior to the effective date of P.L.2001, c.384 are rescinded. The limits established in this paragraph shall remain as stated in this paragraph until subsequently adjusted by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
(2) No national committee of a political party shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year, and no campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from the national committee of a political party any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year.
b. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee, State committee of a political party, another county committee of a political party or a municipal committee of a political party or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any county committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a legislative leadership committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee, the State committee of a political party, another county committee of a political party or a municipal committee of a political party or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, [$25,000 per year] $5,000 per election from that candidate.
c. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any municipal committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per year from that candidate.
[No county committee of a political party in any county shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a municipal committee of a political party in a municipality not located in that county which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of aggregate contributions which, under this subsection, a continuing political committee is permitted to pay or make to a municipal committee of a political party. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party in any municipality shall knowingly accept from any county committee of a political party in any county other than the county in which the municipality is located any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of contributions permitted to be so paid or made under that subsection.]
d. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.384, s.2)
4. This act shall take effect on January 1 following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill limits the amount of money and other thing of value that a county committee of a political party can contribute per election to candidates and political committees, and limits the amount of money and other thing of value that individuals, candidates and certain committees can contribute per election to a county committee of a political party.
Specifically, the bill:
1) provides that no county committee can pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, legislative leadership committee, State committee of a political party, municipal committee of a political party or to another county committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election; and
2) reduces from $25,000 per year (now $37,000 per year due to quadrennial adjustment by the Election Law Enforcement Commission) to $5,000 per election, the amount of money or other thing of value that an individual, corporation of any kind, labor union, political committee, continuing political committee, State committee of a political party, municipal committee of a political party or another county committee, legislative leadership committee, candidate committee, joint candidates committee or any other group can contribute to a county committee of a political party.
The bill also provides that the limits it establishes on contributions by a county committee would be subject to the same quadrennial adjustments by the Election Law Enforcement Commission as provided in current law for other contribution and expenditure amounts.
